Air Force Special Operations Command officer named to senior post in U.S. Space Force

U.S. Air Force Col. Michael Conley, recently promoted to brigadier general, has been named commander of the Space Operations Command. Credit: U.S. Air Force

Brig. Gen. (sel.) Michael Conley has been named vice commander of the Space Operations Command.

WASHINGTON — The chief of space operations of the U.S. Space Force Gen. John Raymond has named Air Force Brig. Gen. (sel.) Michael Conley vice commander of the Space Operations Command at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, the service announced Jan. 30.

Conley’s last assignment was as commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida.

The Space Operations Command used to be known as the 14th Air Force, which became part of the U.S. Space Force on Dec. 20 when the new service was enacted. Conley will replace the former vice commander of the 14th Air Force Brig. Gen. Matthew Wolfe Davidson who also came from the Air Force Special Operations Command.

The Space Operations Command is a field organization that reports to the chief of the U.S. Space Force. The command is responsible to provide space-based capabilities to military forces and allies around the world.

Maj. Gen. John Shaw, commander of the Space Operations Command, said in a statement to SpaceNews:

“We are proud and honored to have another special operations warrior join us at U.S. Space Force’s Space Operations Command. Space is a warfighting domain and we continue to team with the Air Force’s best war fighters to ensure we deliver a space-enabled combat edge at the right place, and the right time, to our joint and coalition teammates down range.”